9 great restaurants in Turin to try during your trip

Looking for some great restaurants in Turin? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, I’m sharing my tips on where to eat in the elegant capital of Piedmont.

Renowned for its impressive palaces, elegant piazzas and fabulous museums, it’s no secret that Turin is an exciting place to visit in Italy. Once the seat of the Savoy court, the city played a key role in the history of Italy. It became the center of the movement to unify Italy (the so-called Risorgimento) and when the peninsula was united under King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy in 1861, Turin was made the first capital of Italy.

While the Egyptian Museum is perhaps the biggest contributor to the fame of the Piedmontese capital, you’ll find plenty of things to see and do in Turin (this 4-day itinerary provides a good overview). And since everyone knows that one of the best parts of any trip to Italy is food, I’ve compiled a list of great restaurants in Turin where you can fuel up while exploring the city. You can use this Google map to easily locate them.

Piola Da Cianci

Piola is the Piedmontese word for “little restaurant specialized in traditional cuisine”, which perfectly describes the vibe of this delightful eatery just minutes from Piazza Castello, Turin’s main square. The interior is really cozy, decorated with wooden tables and all sorts of decorations, from framed photos to hanging chairs. On warm days you can sit in the cute, little square outside.

The menù is short and excellent value for money (antipasti are as low as €4 and mains cost around €5), and food is as local as possible. The atmosphere is great and the staff is super friendly, but remember that the place is small and fills up really quickly, so better to go there early. Normally, they don’t accept reservations, but with Covid restrictions in place, now you are required to book a table in advance.

Info: Largo IV Marzo 9/b, Torino | +39 353 3426322 | website

Source: Piola da Cianci

Le Vitel Etonnè

As the name suggests, Le Vitel Etonnè is one of the best places to eat in Turin, especially when you’re craving some Vitello Tonnato. With a great location right in the city center, a stone’s throw away from the Royal Palace and the Egyptian Museum, this restaurant is an excellent option for a taste of traditional cuisine after a long day out exploring.

On the menu are classic Piedmontese dishes prepared using the finest locally sourced ingredients. Try to grab one of the tables near the open kitchen: watching the chef at work while waiting for your food to arrive is always great fun. You can pop inside even just for a glass of wine from the restaurant’s well-stocked cellar – but I doubt you’d leave without trying some of their delicious dishes.

Info: via S. Francesco da Paola 4, Torino | +39 011 8124621  | website

Porto di Savona

Have dinner at Porto di Savona, one of Turin’s oldest restaurants. This place has been pleasing local palates since 1836 and the décor – with its period furniture and old photographs – retains much of the building’s historic charm. The kitchen serves Piedmontese classics like agnolotti with meat sauce and the traditional mixed fry, but you can also opt for one of the two tasting menus available. Pasta and desserts are exclusively homemade.

The restaurant has a great location in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, the largest porticoed square in Europe. Tables spill out onto the square in warmer months, creating the perfect setting for al-fresco dining with some people watching.

Info: Piazza Vittorio Veneto 2, Torino | +39 011 8173500 | website

Poormanger

For a change from traditional cuisine, take a look at this cute restaurant only steps from Piazza Castello. It’s specialized in Italian-style jacket potatoes. Yep, you read it correctly! Here, the quintessentially British baked potatoes marry Italian ingredients and the result is simply fabulous. I still remember the one I ordered with burrata cheese, Parma ham and taggiasche olives… so good!

The restaurant is lovely, with floral wallpaper, vintage-style chairs and a bunch of colorful tables under the portico outside. They don’t take bookings, so expect to queue at peak times. Still, it’s worth the wait.

Info: via Palazzo di Città 26/B, Torino | website

Pautasso

Pautasso is another great restaurant in Turin where you can enjoy a taste of local cuisine. If you’re curious to try the region’s famous Bagnacauda (more on it later in the article), then this is the place for you. The fact that it’s located in the heart of the Quadrilatero district, one of Turin’s trendiest areas, makes it all the more interesting.

Food is as local as possible and you’ll find many Slow Food Presidia, such as the Bra sausage and the Roccaverano Robiola cheese. The menu at Pautasso includes also vegetarian and vegan options, and every day the kitchen bakes a special gluten-free bread.

Info: Piazza Emanuele Filiberto 4, Torino | +39 011 4366706 | website

Osteria Antiche Sere

Osteria Antiche Sere is one of those unpretentious trattorias that charms diners with their homey atmosphere and honest food. Often listed as one of the top restaurants in Turin, you’ll find it nestled on a side street in the semi-central district of Cenisia – a bit out of the main tourist area, but totally worth the detour.

The interior is charmingly old fashioned, with embroidered curtains, black and white photos and pots hanging on the walls. There’s also an inner courtyard perfect for al fresco dining on those balmy summer evenings. The handwritten menu is a sure sign of fresh and includes delicacies like agnolotti with meat sauce, pork shank and Bagnacauda.  Don’t leave without trying the hazelnut cake with homemade zabaglione, and make sure to book well in advance because the place is always full.

Info: via Cenischia 9, Torino | +39 011 3854347 | website

Mercato Centrale

Opened only a couple of years ago, Mercato Centrale is a cool food court located in Porta Palazzo, home to Europe’s largest outdoor market. Inside you’ll find many artisanal shops and food stalls, from pizza and fresh pasta to cheeses and gelato. You just buy what you want and then eat it at one of the many tables available across the floors.

I personally went to Mercato Centrale for breakfast because I wanted to browse the market stalls early in the morning and had the most delicious cornetto!   

Info: Piazza della Repubblica 25, Torino | website

Ristorante Del Cambio

Del Cambio is a great Michelin-starred restaurant in Turin, perfect for a special dinner. Opened in 1757, it’s located in Piazza Carignano, right in front of Italy’s first parliament. It was a favorite hangout of the Count of Cavour, who liked to discuss the future of Italy over plates of Tajarin and Agnolotti.

The interior décor is really stunning, with frescoes, chandeliers and beautiful period furnishings. On the menu are local classics alongside such delicacies like Piedmontese-style ramen and stuffed pigeon. If you have time, enjoy an aperitivo at the Farmacia Del Cambio right beside the restaurant – they make fabulous cocktails

Info: Piazza Carignano 2, Torino | +39 011 546690 | website

Da Zero

Craving some pizza? Go to Da Zero, a small chain of pizzerias founded by three friends from the Cilento region is southern Italy. You’ll find it in the Quadrilatero district, close to the Holy Shroud Museum. 

Pizzas are made using the finest ingredients sourced from their network of Cilento producers, then skilfully mixed with local products. Try the ‘Cilentana Sbagliata’ with Cilentan sauce, cacioricotta cheese, basil and extra virgin oil – so simple and so good.

Info: via San Domenico 33, Torino | +39 011 18923652 | website

I hope this post will make your stay in Turin all the more delicious! Please remember that this list of restaurants in Turin is by no means exhaustive and simply gathers my personal tips, as well as recommendations I got from locals. If you have any other places to eat in Turin that you’d like to recommend, please do so in the comments below 🙂 Also, make sure to check the websites before you go to a restaurant, as COVID-19 has forced businesses to revise their working hours.

Pssst… Pin this article for future reference and get in touch if you have any questions in preparation for your trip to Turin!

Buon appetito!